Rolling mill



7 May 23, 1933. p FRANK 1,910,158

ROLLING MILL Filed March 9, 1928 Patented May 23,1933

' A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PARDEE H. FRANK, or omen, OHIO, ASSIGNOR 'r'o 'rI-IE rmxnn ROLLER. BEARING column, or CANTON, 01110, A conroanrron or OHIO ROLLING MILL Application filed March 9,

My invention relates to rolling mills of the kind wherein backing or supporting rolls are used to relieve 'the pressure on the working rolls. The principal objects of the invention are to reduce the weight of the backing rolls, to prevent excessive heating thereof, to minimize crossbending stresses thereon, to reduce fric- Inthe accompanying drawing, wherein like numerals refer to like parts wherever they occur,. V

Fig. 1 is a vertical view partly in sectlon and partly in elevation of a four high rolling mill embodying my invention, and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section through one of the housings for the ends of the working rolls, showing the roller-bearings interposed between the neck at one endof a working roll and the housing therefor;

The ordinary four high rolling mill comprises a pair of rolls 2 arranged one above the other and a backing roll 1 for each work ing roll, the axes of all of the rolls being in the same vertical plane. In the construction illustrated, the working r'olls have necks 3 that are provided with. roller bearings (hereinafter described) that are interposed between said necks and the housings 4 that are secured to the end members 5 of the framework of the mill. p

The upper and lower backing rolls 1 are similar to each other in construction. Each backing roll 1 comprises a heavy cylindrical shell 6 preferably ofabout the same length as the working rolls2. Each of said shells is supported by a shaft or beam 7 that extends through said shell and has its ends 5 and itself bearing against a shoulder on the working roll.. The innermost cup or outer 1928. Serial No. 260,327. 1

backing roll to rotate on its axis. In practice, the supporting beam is adjusted, by means of said screws and boxes, so that the backing roll 1 will contact with the working roll 2 throughout the full length thereof.

The bearing construction for the necks 3 of the working rolls 2 comprises two circular series of conical rollers 10 with their cones orinner bearing members 11 and their cups or outer bearing members 12, the cones 11- being mounted on the roll necks 3 and the cups 12 being mounted in the housings 4.

The cones 11 on each neck 3 are arranged with their large-ends toward each other but separated by a spacing member in the form of a sleeve 13 slidable on the roll neck. The small end of the inner cone bears against a ring 14 provided therefor on the roll neck bearing member has its large end bearing against a flange 15 provided therefor on the inner end of the housing. The outer or endmost cup has a sliding fit in the outer end of the'housing and bears against an annular rib 16a provided therefor on a closure plate 16 that is secured to the end of said housing, as by. means of cap screws 17, shims 18 being interposed between said closure plate and the end of the housing to provide for the adjustment of the bearings. The same construction is used at the opposite end of the working roll.

By this arrangement the bearings of the .Working roll neck may be easily and accurately adjusted. For instance, if the bear-' lngs wear, it is only necessary to remove the closure cap 16 and one or more shims 17, and

then replace such cap. In tightening the cap mounted with a sliding fit on the shaft or supporting beam near each end of the roll, such reversely tapered cone having conical bearing surfaces tapering from the middle toward each end and having the usual thrust rib 21 near the middle thereof. A circular series of rollers 22 is mounted on each bearing surface of said duplex cone and each series of rollers cooperates with a cup or outer bearing member 23 that has a sliding fit in the end portion of said shell or backing roll. In the construction shown, two such duplex cones 24 are slidably mounted on the shaft or supporting beam 7 near the middle of the backing roll, and series of rollers 25 are provided forthe respective conical bearing surfaces of said duplex cones, and bearing cups 26 for the respective series of rollers are slidably mounted in said backing roll. The cups are spaced apart by slidable sleeves 27 thatbear against the ends thereof. At each end of the backing roll, a closure plate 28 is secured thereto as closure plate has the effect of adjusting all of the conical bearings.

In the construction shown, a passageway 32 extends from each end of the supporting beam or shaft 7 longitudinally and thence laterally and opens into the space between the shaft and the backing roll, thus affording an easy and efficient way of lubricating the bearings. The ends of said passageway are provided with plugs 33 that have threaded engagement with the shaft. Any suitable means may be used at the ends of the roller for sealing the annular space between said roller and the shaft so as to prevent the escape of lubricant therethrough. If desired, oil may be circulated continuously through the shaft and bearings, being admitted at one end and let out at the other, thus serving both to lubricate the bearings and carry off heat. Likewise, the shaft may have a separate passageway for a cooling liquid independent of the lubricating sys tern.

Among the principal advantages of this construction are the following: On account of the use of roller bearings, friction is greatly reduced. As the shell alone rotates and the shaft or supporting beam remains stationary, less power is required to move the backing roll. On account of the large diameter of the bearing cups, and the multiplicity of series of rollers, and the provision for lubrication, and the freedom of heat radiation, the danger and the disadvantages of overheating the bearings are substantially eliminated. Likewise, on account of the heavy shell being supported at close intervals throughout its length and making contact with the working roll throughout its length, the construction is very effective in preventing any cross bending of the working rolls, which may therefore be made of smaller diameter than would otherwise be practicable. Besides, the bearings are ad- ]ustable very easily, and the backing roll may be dismounted merely by sliding the supporting beam out of it by movement endwise.

What I claim is:

1. A rolling mill comprising end frames having housings, working rolls having necks, roller bearings interposed between said necks and said housings, the working surface of said rolls extending nearly the full distance between housings of opposite end frames, a hollow backing roll for each working roll of substantially the same length as the working roll, a rigid beam extending through each backing roll and mounted on said framework, and a plurality of roller bearings having inner and outer bearing members interposed between said beam and said backing roll near the middle and at the ends thereof, the inner members of said bearings fitting freely on said beam and the outer members of said bearings fitting freely in said backing roll, whereby said bearings may be adjusted and said roller may be dismounted by sliding said beam endwise.

2. A rolling mill comprising end frames having housings, working rolls having necks, roller bearings interposed between said necks and said housings, the working surface of said rolls extending nearly the full distance between housings of opposite end frames, a hollow backing roll for each working roll of substantially the same length as the working roll, a rigid beam extending through each backing roll and mounted on said framework, and a plurality of axially movable roller bearings interposed between said beam and said backing roll near the middle and at ends thereof, eachbearing comprising an inner bearing member mounted on said beam, an outer bearing member slidable in said bearing roll, antifriction rollers between said inner and outer bearing members, spacing members between said outer bearing members, the fit of said inner bearing members on said beam and of the outer bearing members in said backing roll being free enough to permit said members to be moved axially and means for locking said outer bearing members in adjusted position.

3. A rolling mill comprising end frames having housings, working rolls having necks, roller bearings interposed between said necks and said housings, the working surface of said rolls extending nearly the full distance between housings of opposite end frames, a hollow backing roll for each working roll of substantially the same length as the working roll, a rigid beam extending through each backing roll and mounted on said framework, and a plurality of roller bearings interposed between said beam and said backing roll near the middle and ends thereof, each bearing comprising an inner bearing member mounted on said beam, and outer bearing member mounted in said bearing roll, antifriction rollers between said inner and outer bearing members, spacing members between said outer bearing members, the fit of said inner bearing members on said bean and of the outer bearing members in said backing roll being free enough to permit said members to be moved axially and means for locking said outer bearing members in adjusted position, said means comprising closure caps removably fastened on the ends of said roller and having annular ribs arranged to bear against the endmost outer bearing members.

4. A rolling mill comprising end frames having housings, working rolls having necks,

roller bearings interposed between said necks.

and said housings, the Working surface of said rolls extending nearly the full distance between housings of opposite end frames, a hollow backing roll for each working roll of substantially the same length as the work ing roll, a rigid beam extending through each backing roll and mounted on said frame- Work, and a plurality of roller bearings interposed between said beam and said backing roll near the middle and ends thereof, each bearing comprising an inner bearing member mounted on said beam and having reversely conical bearing surfaces tapering towards its ends, a series of taper rollers for each of said bearing surfaces, and an outer bearing member for each series of rollers mounted in said backing roll, spacing sleeves between the large ends of said outer bearing member, the fit of said inner bearing members on said beam and of the outer bearing members in said backing roll being free enough to permit said members to be moved axially and means for adjusting said bearings endwise.

5. A rolling mill comprising end frames having housings, working rolls having necks, roller bearings interposed between said necks and said housings, the working surface of said rolls extending nearly the full distance between housings of opposite end frames, a. hollow backing roll for each working roll of substantially the same length as the working roll, a rigid beam extending through each backing roll and mounted on said framework, and a plurality of roller bearings interposed between said beam and said backing roll near the middle thereof and roller bearings interposed between said beam and said backing roll at each end thereof, each bearing comprising an inner bearing member slidable on said beam and having reversely conical bearing surfaces tapering towards its ends, a series of taper rollers for each of said bearing surfaces, and an outer bearing member for each series of rollers' slidable in said backing roll, spacing sleeves between the large ends of the outer bearing members of the endmost bearings and the large ends of the nearest outer bearing members of the middle bearings, and means at the ends of said backing roll for adjusting said bearings endwise.

6. A rolling mill comprising end frames having housings, working rolls having necks, roller bearings interposed between said necks and said housings, the working surface of said rolls extending nearly the full distance between housings of opposite end frames, a hollow backing roll for each working roll of substantially the same length as-the working roll, a rigid beam extendingthrough each backing roll and mounted on said framework and having a passageway extending from an end thereof and opening through 7 its side into the space between said backing roll and said beam, and a plurality of roller bearings interposed between said beam and said backin roll near the middle and at the ends thereof, each bearing comprisin an inner bearing member mounted on sai beam, an outer bearing member mounted in said bearing roll, antifriction rollers between said inner and outer bearing members, spacing members between said outer bearing members, the fit of said inner bearing members on said beam and of the outer bearing members in said backing roll being free enough to permit said members to be moved axially and means for locking said outer bearing members in adjusted position.

Signed at Canton, Ohio, this 5th day of March, 1928.

PARDEE H. FRANK. 

